Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to discuss dissuasion and what that can potentially look like in terms of the mechanisms in an Irish context.

I am becoming more and more concerned each week when I hear Sinn Féin's contributions to the discussion on drug decriminalisation, with all due respect to my colleagues. This is a committee where we are focusing on the individual, and the individual harm of a drug user. This is not An Garda Síochána before the Committee on Justice looking at the international drug trade. There is a constant speaking out of two sides of the mouth when it comes to decriminalisation because decriminalisation is mentioned as a side point and then there is discussion of drug deals and drug dealers and there is this fear-mongering which is happening beside it. It is almost like the reasons Sinn Féin will not support drug decriminalisation are being set up.

As a left-wing, working-class woman and a voter, I believe it is important to ensure we do not act as a block. People who are experiencing the harms on the ground should not be caught up in the conversation about intimidation and drug dealing, which has nothing to do with them. Those are separate things. If we continue to muddy these issues together, the only people who will lose are those who are struggling with addiction and drug use because they will end up in the courts, in the prison system or dead. As policymakers we have to bring people along and understand and have that analysis. We cannot keep mushing the two things together because when it comes to introducing drug decriminalisation, some people will say we cannot do that because we have not addressed intimidation.

Sinn Féin does not have a policy on decriminalisation at its Ard-Fheis and it very much needs to get one. If members are really serious about having a health-led approach to drugs, they need to work very hard within their parties. As far as I can see, they are blocking the conversation on drug decriminalisation from moving along. They may disagree with that.

I have a question but it is very important to say this. I see this time and again. We need to focus on the person and stop focusing on the big bogeyman with whom we cannot have the conversation. Focus on the people we are talking about who are coming through the services. We need to keep the focus there. If members wants to go into the justice committee and discuss the international drug trade, I suggest they go and do that there. This committee is about a health-led approach for people who use drugs. We need to keep the focus on that and keeping it person centred and focused on the individual.

Some people probably think dissuasion can be mandated, in a sense. Dissuasion or diversion is about offering people an intervention and ensuring the interventions are available and there is a referral pathway. The person should not be criminalised for not taking the referral pathway. Decriminalisation is the model but diversion is just opening up avenues for someone who may need it. As the Chair said, not everyone who comes in contact with the system will have an issue of drugs. They do not need a health intervention. We need to have an assessment model that is adaptable and flexible to understand who needs it and who does not. If the individual does not avail of a health intervention, they should not be criminalised or have a punitive approach adopted towards them. I ask Mr. Duffin for his thoughts on how dissuasion might work in that regard.